An Evaluation of the Use of Gait Plate Inlays in the Short-Term Management of the Intoeing Child

Abstract

A method of short-term intervention in cases of symptomatic intoeing in young children was evaluated. Foot placement angle (FPA) in subjects (N = 18) suffering from symptomatic intoeing was compared before and during the wearing of “gait plate” inlays in the footgear. The median preintervention FPA in the study group was −9.5° (i.e., 9.5° of intoeing). After the addition of gait plate inlays, this angle fell to −3.5° (Wilcoxon's matched pairs test P < 0.0001). There was no correlation found between the site of the underlying pathology, gender, or age in relation to either the degree of original intoeing or resulting improvement. There was a significant negative correlation (Spearman's correlation coefficient −0.512, P < 0.001) between the FPA at diagnosis and the subsequent improvement.